Improvement in fermentation-guards for barrels



A; P. GARDNER.

Fermentation-Guards for Barrels, &c,

N0 145,860' I Ptented Dec.23,1873.

lUNTTEE STATES PATENT CEEICE.

ANTHONY I. GARDNER, OF MOSCOW, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN FERMENTATION-GUARDSFOR BARRELS, &c.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 145,860, dated December 23, 1873; application led June 6, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, ANTHONY I. GARDNER, of' Moscow, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Fermentation-Guards for Barrels, Casks, Jars, or Bottles for containing fermentable or gaseous liquids; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in Which- Figure l represents, in perspective, the application of my invention to a barrel, the guard being applied to the bung or to the staves of the barrel. Fig. 2 represents a vertical and longitudinal section through the same. Fig. 3 represents a tube with a screen attachment, so that vent may be given to the gas without liability of the tube becoming choked by sediment or foreign matter in the liquid.

My invention relates to a very simple plan of making and applying an adjustable and self-acting fermentation-guard vto barrels containing fermentable or gaseous liquids; and it consists in a rubber. strap fastened at one end to the bung or barrel, and passing over an opening through said bung, and secured to the bung or barrel at the other end by a clasp .or fastening that will admit of straining up the said band to increase the resistance against the pressure from the interior of the barrel, or vice versa, and hold the strap at any such desired position, or allow it to be entirely released, as will be explained.

A represents a portion of the barrel, to which the fermentation-guard is applied. B is a common wooden bung or plug for closing the opening in the barrel through which it is` ordinarily filled or emptied. Through this bung or plug is an openin g, a., the top of which is covered and controlled as follows: A rubber strap, b, is made fast to the bung or plug at c,

' and thence passes over the top of said bung or plug, where a seat may be formed for the strap to prevent it from slipping off laterally, and to keep it over the opening c in the bunO. The free end of the strap b passes under a roller-clasp, d, which, being eeeentrically hung,

will, in one of its positions, rmly hold the strap, and in an opposite position release it; and such a clasp avoids the necessity of making holes in the rubber strap, which would soon ruin it, as the strap must be considerably strained, and besides resist the strain from the interior of the cask or barrel. Enough of the strap b extends beyond the clasp or fastening d, to be seized and drawn up tightly to increase the resistant force against the gaseous liquid in the barrel; and for releasing the strap, a strip of leather or strong fibrous material, e, is previously passed under the strap b, and projects therefrom far enough to be readily seized for drawing the strap back from under the clasp, and so freeing it.

To prevent any sediment working into the opening a., which, if it got under the strap, or at the top of said opening, would clog, and prevent free action to the vent, I arrange a wire-screen, j', to keep back all such sediment. This screen, being fastened to the bottom of the bung or plug B, would have to be so put on before the bung was driven into the bunghole. But when it is necessary to apply this screen after the bung is driven, a tube, C, such as shown in Fig. 3, may be used, it having a anged head, g, to prevent it from dropping through the opening a, and slotted at its base to allow the gas to pass without allowing any sediment to pass. When the strap bis passed over the head of this tube, it is securely held in the opening a, into which it is dropped 01 passed from the exterior.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as a fermentation-guard for casks or barrels, is-

The rubber strap b, fastened at one end to the bung or barrel, and passing over an opening through said bung, and its free end held by a clasp, d, by which said strap may be strained to any desired tension, and so held by said clasp, as and for the purpose described and represented.

ANTHONY I). GARDNER.

Witnesses H. L. GAIGE, W. F. CLEMENTs. 

